MVNU hosting Nazarene Student Leadership Conference

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — The Nazarene Student Leadership Conference will be held at Mount Vernon Nazarene University on April 6-9. Over 70 elected student government leaders will learn about the importance of their role and develop skills that will prepare them to represent their peers to the best of their ability. The theme for the conference is “Courageous Leadership.”

“There are few things more transformative on a college campus than to train, equip, and empower student leaders. NSLC has a long history of doing this very well,” said Tracy Waal, MVNU Vice President for Student Life. “This year’s emphasis on courageous leadership will counter the narrative that the path to effective leadership is measured by the political power or polished arguments. Students will be equipped to walk the humble leadership path of Jesus — something that takes great courage — when they travel home to lead their campuses.”

The four-day conference will include speakers who are successful in their fields and who have experience working with student government leadership. Speakers include MVNU faculty and staff including Professor Krissta Hadsell, Director of Institutional Research and Accountability; Dr. Dorothea Hawthorne, Associate Professor of English; Katie Booth, Assistant Vice President of Marketing; Rev. Jennifer Ballenger, Assistant Professor of Youth and Family Ministries; Dr. Doug Van Nest, Dean of the School of Christian Ministry; Jared Ronai, Head Men’s Basketball Coach; Justin Nowicki, Associate VP for Enrollment Management; and Rev. James Smith, Vice President for University Relations.

Also speaking will be author and humanitarian, Rev. Eugene Cho.

Cho’s many passions involve “leadership, justice, the whole Gospel, and the pursuit of God’s Kingdom here on this earth.” He is the president/CEO of Bread for the World and Bread Institute, a prominent non-partisan Christian advocacy organization focused on helping to end hunger worldwide. He is also the founder and visionary of One Day’s Wages, which works toward alleviating extreme global poverty.

He will speak to the MVNU community during Chapel on Friday, April 8, at 10:20 a.m., and later with conference participants. His Chapel message will be livestreamed at mvnu.tv.

Two awards will be presented at the conference. The Charles K. Morrow Award will be given to a member of the MVNU faculty or staff who has been passionate about and led student mission or service learning trips on behalf of the university. The Clayton J. Meyer Silent Servant Award will be presented to a student who exemplifies the servant leadership qualities that the formed MVNU student demonstrated through his lifestyle.

Participating schools include Eastern Nazarene College, MVNU, MidAmerica Nazarene University, Northwest Nazarene University, Olivet Nazarene University, Point Loma Nazarene University, Southern Nazarene University and Trevecca Nazarene University.

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